"We are honoured to be partnering with the city of Chicago and the many cultural, educational and community groups that have come forward with ideas about how the LMNA will add to their work," said Lucas. "I am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the Museum in a city that has a long tradition of embracing the arts and architecture."

California and San Francisco were both suggested as locations for the museum. The former is Lucas’s native city and the latter is where he forged his film career.

The selection of Chicago raises questions about the decision not to open the museum in Britain. Despite Lucas’s American heritage, the Star Wars films were largely filmed in UK studios including Ealing, Elstree, Leavesden and Shepperton. Star Wars: Episode VII, directed by JJ Abrams, is currently shooting at Pinewood Studios, with Looper director Rian Johnson announced for Episode VIII.